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**"My results" - pacemaker? and EP studies?**

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Posted 7/7/2005 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Dear All

I had my appointment in Hertfordshore tonight.  Was along haul - 5 hours there and back.

Anyway, the EP dr said that he had consulted the graph that was printed from the 5 days heart monitor that I wore.  He said that my heart stops sometimes, mainly at night and at rest.  It stops for about 9 seconds each time.  He also said my heart was beating slow, he thinks.

He is going to take me into hospital in a couple of weeks.  He will monitor my heart rate for a couple of days in hospital.  He then saiud that he will carry out EP testing, where he will puta tubne in either side in my groin and take them up to my heart where he can check the elecrtical side. ( He also said he will check my PFO when he is there.)

He said that he then thingk he wil have me back in hospital to have a PACEMAKER fitted!  WOW!  didnt know I needed that!

So there you go!  All up to date!

QUESTIONS

The only quesion I have is about my heart rate.  When I had been checked at hospital before, I  had had a racing heart and i thought my problem was that my heart was too fast - not too slow!  mayne I get the fast heart beats after it has stopped?  Maybe thats what I feel?  Maybe its a sudden rush of blood that I feel?  Maybe that make me panicky and shakey?  Any ideas?

Also, the Dr said that the PACEMAKER will pace my heart so that it wont slow down and I wont get so dizzy or tired.  But, in the light of my fast heart before, will it also slow it down if necessary? Does anyone know?

Any advice about EP studies and pacemaker greatefully received!

THANKS.  I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YOUR REPLIES!  

Posted 7/7/2005 10:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Vikki

it sounds like you had a helpful consultation and you got a lot of info that you needed, that's good, you must feel a bit reassured? I suppose it's good in a way that a pacemaker might be the answer - they are pretty sophisticated these days and help an awful lot of people. As to your questions about your heart rate, I couldn't begin to guess! I've had EP studies done in conjunction with ablations, and it's really nothing to worry about, I found it a bit uncomfortable but that's all. You may be offered some sort of sedation if necessary I think. Anyway, I hope you feel better for knowing more about your condition, it's the not knowing that makes it so much worse isn't it? Good luck.

Juliette 

Posted 7/7/2005 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
everyone each has a differne ttype of pacemaker when they are piut in some shock the heart back to a normal rhhythm and some slow it down or speed it up hence why the dr wants yuo in the hospital. i wuld ask him what type of pacemaker and who makes it too, or over here in the USa they Guidant has recalled some pacemakers Teri ouor moderator did a link on it and I think kathlybn also posted on it too so  please read that information too but let us know what is happening when you will get it etc. all of us here are praying for you.

Heidi

Posted 7/8/2005 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hiya Vicki,

I've been through three ep studies, two had ablations.  Mine have been for fast heart rates not slow.  However, more and more, it's looking like the second ablation (on June 10) hasn't worked.  I met with my regular cardio on June 21.  He told me then that if I continued to have the tachycardia, his recommendation to my ep would be an AV nodal (?) ablation and a pacemaker.  I'm a little scared at the thought of having a pacemaker at the age of 27.  I'll be meeting with my EP next thursday to discuss what's going on.

I have had different experiences with my EP studies.  For the first one, I didn't react to the anethesia like they thought so I remember all of it.  It was uncomfortable...they "play" around with how your heart is beating so I could feel it speeding up and slowing down.  It was a really weird feeling.  After the first one, I changed cardio practices.  The second two (both with ablations with them) I don't remember much of.  I found out the anethesia that was used and made my new ep promise not to use it.  Whatever he did end up using, worked great bc I don't remember anything!!!  I remember vaugly telling my hubby that one of my anethsiologists looked like the elf Arwin from Lord of the Rings.  (She did!!!  She looked like Liv Tyler!)  I gotta say, I prefered the last two to the first.

I was scared to death going into all of these.  But I came out of each feeling better.  If I have to go have another ablation, if I end up having to get a pacemaker, I know I'll be scared then too.  But I also know that it will solve my problem and I will be so much better when it's over. 

When it's all said and done, I'm very glad that I had them done.  I'm not passing out and I do feel better than I felt a year ago when it all started.

smurf  Lil smurf

Posted 7/8/2005 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Vikki, it sounds like you are in great hands and that they are doing their best to help you!  I'm very happy for you that it would seem that they are onto what's happening inside of you with some of these first tests already.  My guess is that the rest of your questions will be answered by the tests that they do while you are in the hospital.  I wouldn't like to speculate, as this is not anything I'm real familiar with.  You've had some great responses here!! ~ Thanks Lil, Heidi, Juliette and Leah!!  I hope you gain some strength and knowledge through what they've said.

 

My very best to you, Vikki ~ 'Keep on keeping' us posted!  This is how we learn when we share our thoughts and experiences. yeah

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 7/8/2005 6:55 AM (GMT 0)

thanks to all.

indeed, I to oam only young - 29 - and I didnt think that all this may happen and id been a pacemaker maybe! how weird!

as I said, the only thing i find hard to beleive is that my heart is too slow, as all my previsou tests showed tachycardia/fast heart! strange!  however the monitor showed that the heart was stopping in the night mainly, and so its obvisouy too slow at times too!

as you say, ill have to ask all these questions when I get into hospital for testing.

so - what's all this about some pacemakers being recalled?  and why did your hurt Leah? - do they normally hurt? can one feel them?

xxx

Posted 7/8/2005 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Vikki,

A pacemaker is just what the name implies. I have an ICD that can also pace my heart beats. I too have a very slow heart rate. While in the hospital getting the ICD, my heart rate was in the 30's most of the time while I was laying there. I was dizzy just laying in the bed. The ICD technician, on the doctors orders, turned up the low end rate to 40 beats per minute. Now my heart rate can never go below that number.

I would guess that the feeling you get when your heart rate is fast is caused by your heart trying to make up for your body's demand for more oxygen. It has to beat faster to supply that need. So a pacemaker to even out your heart rate sounds logical.

I have a Guidant pacemaker. Yeah, Guidant had to recall alot of ICD's recently. Something like 76,000 of them. They did this voluntarily because 2 units out of 21,000 of a certain type failed to respond correctly. Out of 76,000 total recalls they have had problems with only a few. The chances of an ICD acting up is very rare. So don't get too bent out of shape over that.

I think your Electrophysiologist is doing right by you based on having gone through it myself.

Good luck to you and try not to worry.

Steve
Posted 7/8/2005 6:16 PM (GMT 0)

Did the pacemaker really make you better steve?  Did it take away the dizziness?  Also the headaches, tiredness, low energy?  did you have palpitations before, whatthe Dr may have thought were panic attacks? - did these go too?

xxxxx

Posted 7/9/2005 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Vicki,

I have an ICD for arrythmia problems not a pacing problem as I have lots of other heart issues. I have met several people in my area that have pacemakers for the same symptoms you stated and they are doing great. I am not a doctor, nor is anyone else here, so all we can offer is our own experiences based on our own heart problems. Everyones heart problem is a little different and all of us are a little different.

Based on all of that, when my ICD was set to not let my heart rate fall below 40 bpm I felt quite a bit better. I still have alot of problems but the ICD that I have has performed very well and has not been the source of any of the other problems.

I know you are scared and nervous about what lays ahead and that is normal. Having been through it, I can say that all the worry and nervousness really wasn't necessary. The EP study and implantation went very smoothly with a minimum amount of discomfort afterwards. As to whether the unit will perform properly, the chances that it won't are so minute they are almost nonexistant. You have a better chance of being hit by a car or lightning.

I know that everything will work out for you.

Steve
Posted 7/9/2005 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve!! tongue

I'm so glad to see you here with your very positive attitude!! yeah

 

I've missed seeing you and wanted to thank you for your help in this area - sometimes it takes someone who's 'walked in those shoes' to best understand and explain things - and you've definitely 'walked in those shoes'!

 

I'm sending you all the best, my friend and hoping that you are feeling well?!

 

Hugs always, Teri tongue

Posted 7/10/2005 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
yes thanks.  any further adive appreaicted.  Also see my other post, as I now have to go into hospital for EP studies and possibly a pacemaker.

Posted 7/10/2005 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Teri,

Sorry I didn't respond to your email. I hope all is well with you. Do you still have the dizziness problems that we seem to share? Everything with me is doing okay. The anuerysms are growing and causing some additional problems that will have to be addressed soon, but my heart seems to be doing pretty good. I read somewhere that the FDA has given its approval for the start of clinical trials with adult stem cells. I think that it is still going to be a long time before that treatment for us heart patients to be approved. Hoepfully it is approved it time to help some good people that don't know they have or will have a heart problem.

In the meantime we have to keep on keeping on. I did want to tell you that you are doing a wonderful job with this site. I visit alot of them and this is probably the best going. Keep up the good work.

Steve
Posted 7/10/2005 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Vikki,

If you go to www.hrsonline.org you will find a great site that talks about all kinds of heart rhytm and beating stuff. I have learned a lot of good info from reading on that site. It might help set your mind at ease before you go have your EP study. Another good site that talks about Pacemakers and ICD's is www.guidant.com. I only mention this site because I have a Guidant ICD. I am sure that you could logon to any of the other big suppliers of these units and get equally as much info. They would be Medtronics and St. Jude.

Steve
Posted 7/10/2005 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Steve, for all your info! :)

Steve, my dizziness with the low BP seems to have been alleviated when I was taken off of my ACE Inh. and Calcium Channel Blocker (Dr. said it was too heavy on my heart). I'm only on Digoxin now and .6 mg. of Nitro Patches and my BP is more stable. Thanks for asking.

Big Hugs, Teri :)
xoxoxo
Posted 7/10/2005 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Wishing you the best on your EP study and all July 17th Vikki!  It sounds like your EP doc is very conciencious and checking every possibility real good!  I can't add anymore than has already been posted but just wanted to wish you well!  Hugs, Pat
Posted 7/11/2005 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
thanks pat.  and thanks to EVERYONE for their best wishes xxx

Posted 7/16/2005 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Vikki, your in my thoughts and prayers for your EP study tomorrow!  Hope they get to the bottom of what is going on with your heart!    I'll be anxious to hear how it went!  Big Hug, Pat
Posted 7/16/2005 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Pat, for bringing this back to the top!

 

Best wishes to you, Vikki!!  My thoughts and prayers will be with you and please let us know how everything went!!

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 7/17/2005 9:07 AM (GMT 0)

ah! bless you 3 for remembering!  I am going in at 1030 this morn.

the EP op and catheterization is on wed morn.  I am being tested from now til Wed morn.

thanks for keeping me in your prayers.  I will post when I get out. lots of love xxxxx

Posted 7/17/2005 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
We'll be waiting to hear from you, Vikki!!

 

Best wishes and Hugs, tongue Teri

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